Traffic signal



R. W. PROUT vET AL TRAFFIC SIGNALk Filed J-une 28,1923 54 sheets-sheetv1 Dec. 14,` 1926.

Dec. 14, 1926. y 1,611,068

R. 4W. vPROUT lET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed J un6 28, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet2 a 4 6 t e m e 1 6, l# l w TQFTTF 5 Qn L A T E Nu 1 v w y. l 8 T. U S 2O C e R I m P W J A. d w w e l .l R. F

RC', Pro at? R. w. PROUT E-'r A1.

Dec. 14, 192.6.

Filed Jane 28, 1923 NNw NNN .Patented Dec. 14, i926.

'res ,ser

ROSCOE W. .PROUT AND REGIS C. PROUT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

TRAFrIo sGNAL.

Application led. .Tune 2,8, 1923, Serial No. 648,391.

This invention relates to signals such as areV used for automobiles, andthe like, and is Vessentially a traiiic warning signaling device. .lt isto be understood that while the invention is especially adapted for usein connection with automobiles, it mayV also be used at railroad andhighway crossings, vand at intersecting streets, and other like Y placeswhere it is desirable to provide a signal capable of giving a variety ofwarning indications.

@ne important vobject oi the invention is to improve the generalconstruction oi devices' steeringpost, or the signal may be placed at astreet intersection and the control at a remote point under the careofthe tratlic oficer. v l l Y A fourth important object oi the inventionis to provide a novel means for automatically selecting the signal to bedisplayed and po-y sitioning the vsame for display.V y I.

A tth important ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a novel means forrestoringr the signal to its initial or neutral position.

lV ith the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel detailsV oi.f -onstrnction and combinations of parts'heie lnaiiter to he fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .and speciiicallyclaimed.

ln the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate likepartsl in the severa-l views, and: v y i I Fig. l is a view partly insection and part,- ljv in elevation showing thev various parts ol' thedevice in their assembled relation, the view being partlyon'the line X-Xof Fig. 2. Y 'i y y Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the deviceshowing .a portion of the operating .ifea-tures thereof, the featuresbehind those shown being omitted for the sakefoi' clearness inillustration. f Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 3-3 v of Fig. l.

tenets Fig. lis a side elevation of certain partsj shown in detail inFig. 3. y Y

Fig. 5 isy al detail view of certain ,contact making and breakingmechanisms. Y Fig. 6 is a detail of certain other contact making andbreaking mechanisms.

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the signal or display prism, thesection being taken on the line 77 of Fig. vl.

Fig. 8 is a detail end viewvpartly broken away and partly in section.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of certain connections and contacts usedherewith.

Fig. l0 is a general diagrammatic view vot the entire device showing thewiring thereof. The particular embodiment of the `device hereindisclosed has been illustrated as `covering an automobile signal havingiivefpositions soV that there may be a condition of the signalcorresponding to Anormal runY ning condition of the machine, a secondcondition 'indic'ating a right turn, a third cony ditionv indicating aleft turn, a fourth condition indicating `a back, and a iifth conditionindicating slow. It is oi' course obvious that the indications willdepend on the wording or lettering of the signals, and mayV bel used forany other characters 0i signalsl within the range oi the device.V It.will also be apparent that the construction may be varied so that lessor more signalsV mayl be actuated in the same manner.

In a live position signal of this kind for automobiles, there isprovided at any convenient place near the drivers seat, a series ci pushbuttons or contacts, and lini the present instance, by reference to Fig.l0, these contacts will be seen at the top of the Figure; It will therebe noted that there is a Contact ll, which is vused for the leftturnindication, a contact l2 used iorthe slow indication, ay contact 13 usedvfor restoring'the f various parts to the central position or normalcondition, a Contact 14 used 1n indicatlng a back, and a contact l5 usedin lndicat- .ing the right turn. Within a suitablecasf i ing 16, thereis provided a pair of magnets 17 and l18, the magnet 17 having the `leftrotary magnet and the magnet 18'` having the ina right rotary magnet,preferably so-called. Between these magnets there is ournalled va shaft419A and themagnetcores are formed 'with inclined ends 2O so that anarmature 21 lined on the shaft 19 may oscillate between these two magnetcores in accordance with theV energization of one or the other of therotary magnets. Also fixed'on this shaft 19 is a segmental gear. whichmeshes with a pinion fixed upon a shaft 24 supporting an internallyilluminated signalling prism 25 having, in the presentinstance, fivetransparent or partly transparent sides bearing suitable signal indicianot deem ed necessary here to be shown,y as such is common in the art.

--This prism is Jositioned so that in giving any Signat one flat side ofthe prism will be exposed'through a Window 26 formed in theA casing 16.-FiXed upon the shaft is a'fdisk 27 having a projectng lug 28 whichnormally lies vertically beneath the shaft 24 and is held there fromaccidental rotation vby a pair of pavvls`29 which are pivotcd to thepole pieces of the cores of the magnets 18and 17, and areyieidably'heldr in position by a spring 30 which connects these-two'pa.\vls, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 2. New it Will be observed thatunder these conditions-if, Vfor-instance, the magnet 18 be energized,.the corresponding pawl 29 will be attracted by the pole piece of themagnet, Vthis being off-.set and shaped for this position, and the pavvlbeing of magnetic material, such as iron. This Will effect release ofthedisk 27 so that it may be turned and -since theenergization of themagnet 18 has attracted the armature 21 partial rotation of the shaft19Will take place, and this in -turn will effect movement of the segmentalY gear 22 and constant rotation of the shaft 24 and signal prism.Certain devices are used which control the extent of-this rotation, andsimilarly other Idevices are used Which restore the armature 21 to itscentral position and consequently restore the prism to neutral. ln thisconnection by reference to Fi 3, it will be seen 4that upon thesegmental gr 22 is provided a pair of arms 81, which ai pivoted to thesegment adjacent the'shaft 1Q as shown at 32. These arms are drawntoward each other by means of a spring, but are prevented fromapproaching beyond a certain limit lby a ystop member v34. Furthermore,between these'arms are Aposi ioned certain stop pins 35 Which'arosupported on a .frame member ivithinthe casing. New, under thesecon-fditions, let.y it be supposed that the segment 22 infllig. 3 is,byproper. action of one of the rotary magnets swung to the-right. The

stop member. 84 vvill'-cansevthe right hand` armi Sliltorswing to .theright with the segment, While at the same time movement in thatdirection 'of the left hand arm 3l will lmember 39 engageable with afixed Y device.

be prevented by the engagement of said arm Withk the stationary sto-pVpin 35. `Consequently, the spring 33 Will be tensioned, and will tendto restore the segment 22 to its centralposition, as shown in Fig. 3. Ifno the lever carries a 40. rlhis apparatus just described l ablycal] thefirst position locking contact The disk 27 is preferably termed theselector cam, and adjacent each side of this disk is a shaft 41 whichvcarries a selector paivl These paivls are normally kept in suchposition by vmeans hereinafter to be described that the lug 28 will beengaged by one of the paivls, so that the rotation. of the'disk 2'?,.an-d consequently of the shaft 24 is limited. However, each of i theshafts 41 also carries an armature 43 which is positioned to beattracted by the pole piece of a magnet 44 under certain conditions sothat the respective paivl 42 may be drawn away from the disk 27 and thusallow the lngl 28 to pass freely beyond the pawl 42. Above each of theshafts 41 is a .second shaft 45 and' `fixed on each of these shafts is aholding pa'ivl 46 1which bears on a holding cam or disk 47 fixed on theshaft 24, and provided with spaced lngs or projections 48. r

It Will be observed from Fig. 2 that the ends of the pawls 46 arepositioned and'close together', but suiiiciently far apart to permit arespective lag 48 to drop in between them. Non' suppose the conditionsare such that both the magnets 18 and the right hand magnet- 44 areenergized, then a rotation of the ,shaft 24 will be set up which willbrin g the right hand lug 48 between the ends of the paWls 46, thisAbeing a second position for the shaftY 24and consequently for the signal. On the shaft 41 and 45 are fixed arms 49 Which are connected b vsprings 50 so that these springs serve to hold the nawls 4G Y a. ad Land42' in eneae'ementivith their respective disks, Of course, undertiese conditions,

means must be provided -for releasing the paivls 4G` to-permitthe disk47 to rotate backvvardm and in order to' do this, there is s.providedwhat yWe, preferably term a centerN ing magnet which is locatedbetween the shafts 45, and which has a core projecting i ce isc

both ends, thus formingv pole vpieces for swinging armatures 52.`1xed onthe shaft 45. Thus the energization lof 'the magnet 51 will lift thepawls 46 and tree them from` tion in which the disks or cams and allpartsv are shown in Fig. 2. After this provision isV made, whererotation in either direction of the disk 27 through either one-fifth ofa circle or through twolifths of such circle, so that there are thus iveseparate and distinct positions which can be Vassumed by the shai't 24,andconsequently, bythe signal prism'.

Now considering the Wiring of the entire device, and referringespecially in this connection to Fig. 10, 'it will be seen that there isprovided the ordinary automobile battery B, one terminal of which isgrounded as at G. From the remaining terminal of the A battery B leads amain line Wire 53, which is controlled by a main switch or releases\vitch,54. Branches 55 fconnect this main line Wire'ivith the' severalpush buttons 11 to 15 inclusive. From the push button 11 extends a'ivire56 which'leads to the Winding of the magnet 17, and from'thence 'througha Wire 57 to va ground '58." Similarly, from the push button 15, a Wire59 leads to the winding of the magnet 18V and thence through a. Wire 69to the, ground 58. -From 2'" n the push button 12, a ivire 61'leads tothe Winding of the lefthand selector magnet 44, and from thence througha Wire 62 to the wire 56 so that depression of the push button 12connects the magnets 44 and 17 in se-Y v tact being grounded as at 98.

Wire 91 extends abranch 99 Which`,leads to ries. Similarly, V:trom thepush button 14a Wire *63*l leads to the Winding of the right handselector magnet 44, and from thence through a Wire 64 to thewire 59sothat depression of the push button 14 connects the right handlSelector magnet and the rotary magnet 18'in series.4 From the pushbutton 13, a Wire`-65 leads to the vvinding'oi` the magnet 51 and fromthence througha Wire 66 toy a circuit closure 67 connected to the groundas at 68. At 69V is shown the brake' lever of the automobile, and thislever is connected by a Wire 70 With the main line 53,

and yforms oiie element of a circuit closure, the other-element of whichis connected by a wire71 with the Wire 61 so that upon movement of thisbrake lever in one, direction, circuit is closed through the vleft handselector magnet 44 and the magnet 17. Similarly at 72 is the gear shiftlever which is connectedby a vvire? 3 with the mainline 53 f and formsone element of the circuit closure,

the other element ot which is connected by a Wire 74 With the .Wire 63.`At 75 is a steering Y shaft, and on this shaft is mounted theusualsteering Wheel 76, which 'is here shown, for

convenience in `illustrating the diagram, as formed of tivo parts. Thislsteering Wheel is'V provided Withl a lug 77 Which controls ay.circuiting vclosing lever 78, so Athat when the lever is moved in onedirection it closes acircuit through the Wire 79 connected to the' mainline Wire 53 and the lever, and thence through a Wirel 8O connected tothe Wire '56. Thus, under these conditions, the magnet 17 will beenergized. Under other conditions, the lever 78 closes a circuit througha Wire 81 Which is connected to the Wire 65 leading to the magnet 51.Also acontact 82 is positioned to be engaged by the lever 69 undernormal conditions, and is connected to said Wire`81. A second lug 83ori-the steerfing wheel controls a contact lever'84, Which is connectedby Wire 85`to the main line wire 53, and. loscillatesgbetween a pair ofcontacts, one of Which is connected by Wire '86 Withthe Wire 59 to closea circuit through the magnet 18, and the other of Which is connected bylwire. 87 with the Wire 65, and thus l through the magnet 51.

' Furthermore, a contact 88 .is connectedto this Wire 87 and isengageable under normal' conditions by the lever 72. Leading from themain line Wire 53 is a wire 89, Which is Wound around vra relay magnet90, and vfrom thence leads, by means of a vvireu91,'to the signal lamps92, these lamps being connect-V ed in parallel and being also connectedby a Wire 93 vvith the Wire 96. The armature of this relay magnet isshown at 94, andv v.from the Wire 89 extends a branch 95Which leadsthrough an indicator lamp 96, and thence tothearmature 94, a contact 97being positioned to be engaged by the armature 94 upon energization ofthe magnet 90, this con- From the A lll() a lever 100, pivoted adjacentthe segment 22,

and normally held in contact Witha cam 101 fixed on said segmentbynieans 4of a spring 102. AAdjacent this lever isa fixed contact 103,which is connected by a Wire 104 with a movable contact'member 105voscillating betvveen fixed contacts, one of vvhich is connected by Wire106 with the Wire 63, While the other is connected by Wire 107 with amovable contact 108. This latter Contact in turn oscillates betweenlixed contacts, one of which is connected by a Wire 109 with the tailrlamp 117. From thence this Wire leads to a lever 118 controlled by a cam119 on the segment 22 and'removable to engage and ldisengage from aContact 120 4connected by Wire the ground 122. branch vvire iii 123leads from the wire 115 through a backing lamp 124 to the verticalsector contacts and thence to the ground 125. n

Y At this point it is now deemed advisable to explain the operation otthe device, and to this end, by reference to the wiring diagram, it willbe seen that there is provided certain'inanually operated push buttons,automa'tically operating the contacts and connections from there to theworking parts of the devicev Assuming, forr instance,that the operatorwishes to show the signal to the position indicating a right hand turn.rlhe operator depressesV the proper button on the steering wheel; rlhisenergizes the right hand rotary magnet, and accordingly pulls the righthand centering pawl treeV of' the lug on the selecting cam or disk,which leaves the signal shaft free to turn in the -c esired direction;vat the same time the rotary magnet operates the rotary armature and thelirst position locking contact armature, Accordingly this signal turnsto` one-fifth of a revolution. l/Vhen the signal has turned one-fifth otthe revolution, the selector cam operates to stop further turning andthe holding pawl has dropped behind the lirst lug von the holding ln theevent that the driver or operator does not keep the button contactclosed suiliciently long to complete operation ot the signal, it will beseen that the instant the rotary4 magnet is energized, the firstposition circuit closer is closecuand this establishes a locking circuitthrough the left hand contacts controlled by the cams `on the sector,which contact is maintained until suliicient movement has taken place inthe sector to again break these circuits. Similarly, the instant themovement of the'sector start-stl e upper lever is resting on the uppersector cam and operates to light the interior lamps` in the interior ofthe signal as the movable arm is allowed to drop, and to yclose thiscircuit. yAt the saine time, if the tail lamp is burning the uppersector cam will raise the upper right hand contact arm and break thiscircuit.

lt is to be noted that in makingthis turn,

the driver has shifted his steering wheel, and

when he straightens yup after the turn has been made, the circuit isautomatically closed through the centering magnet which releases theseparts. Ags in the othercase, provision is made 'for closing a lockingcircuit through the centering magnet, andthe detail construction of thelocking circuitclosing device is clearly shown in lig. 6 wherein thereis shown on the right hand shaft, 45, an arm 125 which is positioned toengage alever 127 connected l y wire 128 with the wirev 53, the

lever V127 being engageable with a contact connected by wire 129 to theWire 81. Here it isdesired to statethat ingEig. 9, `Will be seen certaincable connecting blocks 130, and

arrangement "of springpressed contact ineinbers 13,1 for connecting thevarious-circuits in the casing.

A s previously described, when it is desired to move the signals throughto two-fifths ot a circle, the operation is such as to connectthemagnets on the proper side in series', and it will be obvious thatthe holding circuits will be operated in like manner as'betore.

There has thus been provided a simple and elicient device ot the kinddescribed and tor the purpose specified. A

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction ot the invention without in any way departing from thematerial spirit thereof. lt is not, therefore, desired lto conline theinvention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it isdesired to include all such asproperly come within thescope claimed. Y

Having thus describedV the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. ln a device oi the kind described, a rotary signaling member havingsignal indicia placed around its periphery, electromagnetic meansoperable by theclosing of a Vcircuit for-causing said member to rotate,a

locking device including said electromagnetic means normally holdingsaid member in neutral position and operable to move to releasedposit-ion upon energization of the said electromagnetic means, otherelectromagnetic means controlling the extent ot said rotation, springmeans urging the signaling means to normal position, and anelectromagnetic locking mechanism holding the signal releasably againstactuation by said spring means.

2. In a signaling device, a rotary signal- Ving' element,Velectromagnetic means to rotate the signal in either direction,`including a pair of magnets, and means including a pair ot pawls otVmagnetic material normally holding said element against rotation andcontrolled by said ymagnets to release the element for rotation in onedirection upon energization of one ot said magnets and in the otherdirection upon energization ot the other magnet, the pawl adapted to becontrolled by the unenergized magnet remaining quiescent and acting as astop upon return of the. rotary member to neutral position. n v Y 3. Ina'signaling device,v a rotary signaling element, electro-magnetic meansto rotate the signal in either direction, including a pairofmagilets,,ineensy normally holding said `element, against rotation andvconytrolled, by said magnets to release 'the `elcinent Vtor'rotation inone direction only upon energization of a respective magnet, andcomprising a, disk rotatab-lewith the element and Ahaving a. lugprojecting therefrom, a

pair of pawls ot `m`agnetic material 'normally engaging said liigandarranged veach to be storing the element to normalposition upon movedVto yrelease positionloy a. respective magnet, and means to limittherotation of said element including a pair of stop paWls arranged onopposite sides of thedisk in the path of said lug.

4. In a signaling device, rotary signalsition, electro-magneticallyreleasable holding means for holding said elementin its rotatedposition, and springfmeans for rerelease. v j Y j 5. In a signalingdevice, a rotary signal ing element, electro-magnetic.meanstoio tate thesignal in either directiom-in'cluding a pair of magnets, means includingla pair ofpawls of magnetic material normally holding said element.against 1 rotation and jcontrolledby said magnets` to,l releasethe Yelement for rotation in'one direction upaA on energization of one. ,ofAsaid magnets and in the other direction upon .energization lg of theother'magneafthepawladaptedtolbe controlled loythe unenergized kmagnetre maining quiescent and acting as a stop uponreturn of Vthe rotarymemherto neutral pof sition, said holding meansalso including diskrotatable With. the element and having aV lug projecting therefrom, saidpaWls nor-` mally engagingsaid lug and arrangedeach to be 'moved torelease position. by 'arespective'. magnet, electro-'magneticallyreleasalole holding means for holding-said element'in its rotatedposition, and spring means forv .restoring the element Vvuponrelease. v

6.' In a signaling device, aV lrotaryfsignal` ingvelement,electro-magnetic means to `ro-I to normal position tate the signal ineither direction; includingV a .pair of magnets, :means including af-pair of pawls'V of. magnetic material normally holding said elementagainst Vrotation and controlled by said magnetsto release the elementfor frotation in onev directionv ,up-vl on energization` vof one .said imagnets and 1n theother direction uponfenergization of the other magnet,the pawl adapted toloe`Vv controlled by the unenergizedA Vmagnet fre?,maining; quiescent and acting asiaV stop. upon returnvot the rotarymember to neutral poev sitiOn, meansy to limitthe rotation ofwsaidelectro magneticalljT` preleasalole"v holding means forholdingsai'dcelementfinv element,

.for .releasing the Stop'rawls.-

kits Vrotated position, and spring means for restoring the elementv toi`normal "position uponrel'ease. v Y j. Y 7.42111 a signaling device, a'rotary'lsignal'- ving element,electrofmagnetic means toro-1 tatethesignal in either direction, including v oi." pawlsptA magneticfmaterialnormally pair of magnets, means including a pairl holding said 'elementagainst rotation and "controlled,hyfsai'd magnets tonre'lease the ele-Vjment 'or rotation inv onegdirection 'only upon f energization of airespective 1` magnetnfl said holding means'also including adiskrotatahle Vwith the` 'element and having-a 'lug projectingtherefrom, said `paWls normally .engaging said lug andarianged each tobe movedV to releaseposition'hy aY respectivev *Y magnet, means tolimitj,thefrotation of said element including va pair vofjstop paWls'arranged on opposite sidesgyoi thedisk inthe path of saidlug,electro-magneticallyreleas- -able *holding means tor holding saidelen'fin/itl in itsjrotated position, landsp ring means for Arestoringfthe element to.L normal'position upon release.

Inasignaling device, a-notaiy; signal- Ying. element, electro-magneticmeans to ro- 'i tate theosig'nal inl either direction, incluL 'j ing a.pair ot .1iiagnets, means including a- 'j pairopavvls ,ofmagneticmaterial normally y holdingffsaid elementagainstkrotation andcontrolled yloy saidrv magnets: to. release the element.foifrotationlinonedire'ction 'only' upon energiiation of respectiveimagnfet, saidholdingineans also. including a 'disk rotai able with the; Aelementand'. having ,lug proj ectingtherefrom,y saidfv pawlsfnor'mally engagingsaid lug and arranged eachtof he fmovedftofrelease position byafrespective'`l magnet, vmeans '1 tolimit the rotationlof.` saidelementincluding .a pair ofstop pawls 'arranged on l opposite sides .ofthedisk in. the

path of'said lug, j

and` electro-,magnetic means flu-a "signaling devicefa rotary-signal'-ing element, electromagnetic means te. ro- 1. f

tate thensignal,l inxeither direction, Yincluding Va .pair oit'magia/ets,V means nincluding al pair oi'pawls'fot magnetic" materialincr? yfinally fv'holding l`said element vagainst rotation vandcontrolledhysaid magnetsr to release the element for rotatioiigin'onedirection only .upon energi'zation a :respectivej inagnet and said;holding .means-also, including .a disk 'rotatableA 'with vthe element;and having .to loexmovedfto releaseposition hya respec- -a lugprojecting therefrom,saidpawls norymally engaging said lugandf arrangedeach Y.

tive magnet, mea-nsto limit the rotation of 1 said elementincluding a,pain of .stop pawls y arranged on opplos'ite'isides off the disk in thei :path lof said lug', electromagnetic means t'or .releasing the 'stoppawls'includinga pair 01tmagnets y,in series` with the' iirst``mentionedl magnets l0. In a signalingdevice, a rotary signal- .eing'elementelectro-magnetic means to rokl (l ingquiescent and acting asa stop upon re-` tate the signal in either direction, includingV a lpairor" magnets, means including a pair ot yturn of-'the rotary member tolneutral position, and 'said holding means also including a diskrotatableV Wit-li the element andVV having a lug projecting therefrom,ysaid pawls normally engaging said lug and arseY l holding means alsoincluding ai disk rotat-k 'able With the element land having a lugprojecting therefrom, said paivls normally en- VVAgaging said lug andarranged eachto he ranged each to be moved to'release position by arespective magnet, means to limit the rotation of said'element includinga pair of stop pavvlsv arranged on oppositepsides ot the disk in thepath of said lug, electro-magnetic means :tor releasing thev stoppawls,ele ctromagnetically releasable holding means for holding uaidVelement in its rotated position, and spring means tor restoring theelement A' to normal position upon release.

ll. In a signaling device, a rotary signaling element, electro-magneticmeans including'a pair of pavvlsl of magnetic material to rotate thesignal in either direction, including a pair of magnetsgneans normallyholding said'element against rotation and controlled by's'aid magnets torelease the ele- Yniientfor rotation in .one direction only uponenergizationjof a; respective magnet, said ymoved to release position'by a respective magnet, means to V'limit the rotation of saidv elementincluding apair of stop pavvls arranged onopposite sides ofthe disk inthe path vof said lug, electro-magnetic means for releasing'the stoppavvls including a-pair ot magnets' in series vv-ith the first'mentioned magnets, felectromagnetically Y releasable holdingmeans forholdingsaid element in its rotated position, fand spring' means'torArestoring the element tonormal condition upon release. f

e l2. Ina signaling device, ai rotarysignaling element, electro-magneticmeans `to rotate the signal elementY in either direction in- Y cluding apair of magnets, means normally holding vsaid element against rotationAand y'controlled "by said magnets, said holding means including a pairof patvls otV magneticV material each forming the armature of arespective magnet and moved thereby to Vre- "leasef, position, :saidvholdingv means further nicluding n' ai disk `'rotatable With theelementV and having a lug normally held between"saidl falso paivv'ls,yelectro-magnetically controlled means Lor holding the elementreleasabl-y in i'otatecl position vand including a second disk rotatableWith the signa-ling element and having a plurality. of lugs thereon,said last means opposite sid-esV oi the second dish to engage respective'lugs thereon, said means further including a centrally disposed barelectromagnet anda pair oi armatures therefor each of which has opeative connection ivitli a respective paivl' or the last mentioned pair,and

spring means "for restoring the element -to normal position upon releasebythe last mentioned holding means. n

13. ln a signaling device, a rotary signaling element, electro-magneticmeans to rotate the signal element in either direction includ ig a pairoi? magnets, means normallyr hong said element' against rotation andcontrolled by said magnets, said holding means including al pair. otpaivls of magnetic Y'nniterialteach iorniing the larmzdure'ot1arespective magnet and'inoved t ereby to i'cleas-e position, saidholding means further including a disk rotatable with the element andhaving a lug normally held between lsaid paivls, electro-magneticallycontrolled'means for holding theelement releasably in rotated positionand including a 'second disk rotatable With the signaling element andhaving aplurality of lugs thereon, said last means Y also including apairof paivls arranged on opposite `sides 'of vthe secondl disk toengage respective lugs thereon, ysaid means r'urther including acentrally `disposed bar electromagnet anda pairoi:l armatures thereforeach of vvhiclrhajs operative connection With-a r'esgectivefparvl of thelast mentioned pair,`

spring means iork-ifes'to'riiigv theelenient to lnormal position uponrelease by the-last men- Qtioned holding means, and lreleasable meanslto limit movement of the-element under in-V uence ofy theelectro-magnetic vrotating means in either direction.

A. In zit-signaling device, a rotary signaling` element,"electro-magnetic meansV to roincluding a pair orprpaivls arranged ontate the. signal element in either direction iiicludiiiga-pair ot'magnets, means normally holding saidelement against rotationfandcontrolled by said magnets, said yholding means including a pair ofpavvls of' magneti" material each forming the armature of a respectivemagnet 'and moved thereby torelease position, Vsaid holding meansfurther includinga disk rotatable with ythe element and havinga lugnormally held between-'said paivls, electro-magnetically controlledmeans able with the signalingelenient and/having a plurality oflugs'thereon, saidlast means also including apair of pavvls arranged onYopposite sides of fthe second ldisk to engage respective lugsthei'eon,said means "further kfor holding the element releasably infrotated Ypositionand including a second disk rotatn means including a pair ofpaWls on opposite edge portions of said iirst .disk in the path underinfluence of the electro-magnetic ro-r` tating means. in eitherdirection, said last of thev lug on said first disk, and a Second pairof electro-magnets each associated With a respective lastmentioned pawland having an armatureoperatively connected thereto.

l5. In a signaling device,'a rotary signal-V ing element,electro-magnetic means to rotate the signal element in either directionincluding a pair of magnets arranged in opposed alined relationrandhavingan armature common to both and operatively connected to thesignaling element, means normally holding trolled by said magnets, saidholding means said element against rotation'and con-v including a pail'ol' panfls ofzmagnetic material each forming the armature of arespective magnet.- and moved thereby to releaseposition, said holdingmeans further including a disk rotatable with the element and having 1 alug normally held between said pavvls, elec tro-magnetically controlledmeans for hold'-v ing the element'releasably in rotatedpositionandincluding a second'disk rotatable with the isignaling element and havinga plurality of lugs thereon, said last means also including a. pair ofpaWls arranged on oppositesides of the second disk to engage respectivelugs thereon, said means further including a centrally.disposedY barelectip'! 'magnet and a pairjof armatures therefor,

each of which has operative connectionr with'v i a respective pawl ofthe last mentioned pair, and spring means for restoring the element tonormal position upon release bytlielast mentioned holding means Y Intestimony whereof We aixfour signaf tures.

ROSCOE W: PROUT. 'REGIS C.l PROUT.

